Combined sunglasses and face protector



Feb. 23, 1954 E. DIGGS COMBINED SUNGLASSES AND FACE PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 8, 1951 INVENTOR4 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, A1954l COMBINED SUNGLASSES AND FACE PROTECTOR Everett Diggs, Winchester, vInd.

Application November 8, 1951, Serial N o. 255,459

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to face protectors and more particularly to devices of this character adapted to be worn in conjunction with a pair of sunglasses.

Generally, the invention consists of a pair of sunglasses with a face protector of light thin fabric depending therefrom, the sunglasses serving to protect the eyes and the fabric serving to prevent sunburn of the face of the wearer.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which incorporates sunburn protection for the face of the wearer combined with protection for the eyes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the upper edge of the face protector is disposed in a groove extending along the lower edge of the sunglasses.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the upper edge of the face protector is detachably secured to the sunglasses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction and yet effective and efficient in use.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specication taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side view, partly broken away,

Figure 3 is a plan view,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure I5 is an enlarged iront view in elevation of an embodiment shown in Figure 1, partly broken away,

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 1--1 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 10 is a modified form of the construction shown in Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is another modified form of the construction shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 1, a pair of sunglasses is shown comprising lenses I4 of suitable optical properties mounted in a front frame member I5. Frame member I5 is shown provided with a forwardly extending guard or nosepiece IIS. A pair of bows or temples Il are shown hingedly connected to the lateral extremities of the frame member I5 at I8, extending rearwardly in the usual manner.

Bows Il may be folded when the device is not in use.

Downwardly depending from the lower peripheral portion of frame member I5 and from the lower edges of nosepiece I5 and of bows I'I is a face protector I9 preferably of light thin fabric, the construction of the fabric being such as to permit relatively free circulation of air therethrough. The weave of the fabric must be close enough, however, to provide protection from the direct rays of the sun. The protector member I9 may be of any desired length, preferably being of a length sufficient to extend below the chin for full protection of the face and at least partial protection of the neck of the wearer. The protector I9 is shown extending backwardly to about one-half the length of the bows Il for lateral protection of the face.

Ordinarily, the frame member I5 and the bows I1 are formed of a plastic composition which is normally relatively hard, but which may be softened by the application of heat. When material of this character is used, the protector member I9 is secured to the frame member I5 including nosepiece I6 and to the bows Il by the provision of a groove 29 extending along the lower edges thereof, the groove being shown in Figure 9.

The upper edge of the fabric which forms the protector member IS extends upwardly into the groove 20 and is securely held in position by the lip portions ZI of the lateral walls of the groove 2li. With the plastic material in a softened condition attained by the suitable application of heat, the lip portions 2l are pressed together. After the plastic material has returned to normal temperature and hardness, the fabric of protector member I9 will be firmly held in the groove '26.

Figure 10 illustrates another method of securing protector member I9 to the sunglasses. A plurality of hooks 22 are disposed in spaced relationship along the lower edges of frame member I5, nosepiece It and bows Il. The hooks 22 are shown by way of illustration as each consisting of a wire 23 which extends transversely through the lower edge portion of the frame l5 and of the bows I'I, being bent downwardly at 24 to secure the nook 22 firmly in position..

Wire 23 extends downwardly and is bent upwardly at 25 to form a hook. The fabric of protector I9 is conveniently slipped on each of the hooks 22 by piercing the upper edge of the fabric with the hook portion 25 of the Wire 23. When it is desired to clean the fabric, it may be readily removed by detaching its upper edge from the several hooks.

Figure 113 the drawing shows still another method of" securing the fabric of protector I9 to the sunglasses. The upper edge of the fabric is inserted in groove 20 as described above. A plu rality of pins 25 are then inserted in suitable spaced transverse holes provided for the purposealong the full length of groove 20, each of the pins piercing the fabric at the upper edgefportion thereof, thereby securing the protector la tothe. sunglasses.

While but one form of the invention has: been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in. the art, that many; minor modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention. or theV scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for the protection of the wearer from the effects of exposure to direct. sunlight, a pair of sunglasses comprising afrontframemember and a pair of bows, the lower peripheral portions of the frame member and the lower edges of the bows having a groove extending therealong, a downwardly depending protector member of fabric, the construction of the fabric being such as to allow relatively free circulation of air therethrough while at the same time alfording protection from the direct rays of the sun, the upper edge ofthe fabric extending: upwardly into said' groove and being securely held therein.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which the frame member further comprises a, forwardly extending nosepiece, the,- groove extending along the lower edge of said nosepiece.

EVERETI' DIGGS.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 766,426 Comstock Aug. 2, 1904 1,164,351' Hultstrom Dec; I'i,l 1'915 1,582,164 Burstyn Apr. 271.1926' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Coun-try Date 3,268` Austria Pebl. 11,1790! 688,227 Germany Feb.` 115, 1940 

